InshaAllaah you have been making dua and are feeling motivated to begin your efforts. This week we will talk about istighfaar. Istighfaar is linked to the Arabic root word غَفَرَ which means to cover/ conceal. When we do istighfaar, we are asking Allaah to conceal our sins. This means we are asking Allaah not just to hide our sins from others, but more importantly, we are asking Him to conceal our sins so we are not held accountable for them on the Day of Judgment. We are begging that our sins are not exposed and to be protected from the consequences of our sins.
The prophet sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam used to do istighfar many, many times a day. When we learn that our prophet, who was free of sin asked for forgiveness so many times a day, then what about us?
Here is a hadeeth concerning merits/virtues of istighfaar
من لزم الاستغفار جعل الله له من كل هم فرجا، و من كل ضيق مخرجا، ورزقه من حيث لا يحتسب
(Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, and others)
Basic meaning: Whoever regularly seeks istighfaar (forgiveness), Allaah will grant him relief from every hardship, a way out from every difficulty and will provide for him through means he never expected.
Today we will learn the most excellent manner of asking forgiveness, also called Sayyidul Istighfaar.
Action item for this week:
Write down this dua on a flash card and keep it with you in your wallet. Try and memorize it when you can, but until then, carry it around with you for easy reference. Try and say this dua at least once everyday. Think about the meaning when you say it, and ensure that you do not skip a day.Remember that each action item should be done daily until it becomes part of your daily routine. When you start the next week's action item, you must still continue the previous one. So continue making the dua for the tawfeeq to prepare and benefit from Ramadhaan and to become a better Muslim as well (last week's action item).
